Princess Toadstool stood on the balcony standing from an open window leading into her room in the tallest tower of Mushroom Kingdom. The city below moved on casually, its citizens, like a gentle tide breaking at turning points of buildings and Toad related guards.
All is well, as it had been for months. There has been little word of King Koopa; who—as scouts had explained—has locked himself in his fortress, surrounded by a new wave of black Shyguys.

Yet, the Princess was not satisfied, something was amiss…though this should be a time of celebration…old friends had come from far for her sixteenth birthday. King Toadstool had recovered from his bout of poison mushroom fever, and even old enemies had gathered past the walls to join in peaceful—and perhaps even charitable—party and cake.

__________________Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.